Lockwood, Killingly run past Law in Class M quarters

Updated 11:12 pm, Tuesday, November 28, 2017

KILLINGLY — Spencer Lockwood’s prowess as a running back is clear in nearly 7,000 career yards on the ground. His defensive skill helped Killingly ease its way back to the CIAC Class M football semifinals for a third year in a row.

Law, making its first appearance in the 42-year history of the playoff, scored first Tuesday night, but Lockwood ran for six scores and picked off three passes in a 57-21 quarterfinal win.

“They were everything we expected and more,” Law coach Erik Larka said. “Not a lot of weaknesses. Adjustments we made, they had a counter-adjustment.”

Law, the eighth seed, finished 6-5.

Lockwood ran for 382 yards and had scoring runs ranging from 2 to 90 yards. Three times Lockwood ran for a touchdown one play after a Law turnover.

“I didn’t care what I had. What I care about is 57-21,” Lockwood said, pointing to the far end of the field and the scoreboard. “To get to the semifinals, 11-0, it’s the best feeling.”

After its first undefeated regular season since 1953, Killingly will host fourth-seeded Berlin (9-2) in the semifinals on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. That’s the round where the Redmen stalled the past two years, losing to the eventual Class M champions both times.

Law co-captain Andrew Pawlus doesn’t expect that streak to continue. He thought the Lawmen fell to the eventual champs this time.

“We expected them to run the ball. We thought we could match their physicality,” Pawlus said.

Larka hoped establishing Law’s passing game might open up the run a bit against Killingly.

A long third-down completion from Hayden Hulme to Ethan Saley on the first drive set up Mike Plaskon’s 1-yard touchdown run and put the Lawmen ahead.

“We knew (the Lawmen) were a great team. They have a lot of weapons,” Lockwood said. “Coach (Chad Neal) told us they were going to score.”

And other teams have scored first against the Redmen, Lockwood said, so they weren’t concerned.

He ran the ball four times for 54 yards on their first possession, capped by a 30-yard touchdown run. Law punted, and the Redmen went 66 yards on nine plays, with Zach Caffrey’s run finishing it off.

Law got as close as 26-14 when quarterback Hayden Hulme eluded Jarrett Plantier’s sack and hit Cole Egersheim for a 14-yard touchdown midway through the second quarter.

A Killingly chop-block helped Law hold the Redmen to Luke Desaulnier’s 31-yard field goal on the next drive with 27 seconds left to halftime. Lockwood picked off Hulme on the next play from scrimmage. Desaulnier threw his only two passes of the night, Zack Burgess caught the second for a touchdown,

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Spencer Lockwood had three interceptions and was in on other big defensive plays. He also played offense.

CARRY ON

Killingly rushed 44 times for 527 yards.

MOVING UP

The Connecticut High School Football Record Book has Bristol Central’s Tim Washington third in all-time rushing yards coming into the season with 7,712. Hillhouse’s Harold Cooper was fourth with 6,661. Lockwood came into the game with 6,552 and tacked on nearly 400.

Washington, coincidentally, was eighth coming into the year on the single-season rushing yardage list with 2,711 in 2001. We’ve got Lockwood at 2,755.

BANGED UP

Plaskon took a helmet to the knee and left the game in the third quarter. Larka didn’t think it was anything that would impair him for track season.

QUOTABLE

“The standard now is the playoffs. We accomplished it this year, and the junior class below us ... there’s nothing they can’t do.” —Law senior Andrew Pawlus